Cinco de Mayo unites diverse communities

May 6, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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A young member of a Mexican dance group acknowledges the crowd at the end of the dance. The dancers were part of the entertainment at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Two girls hang on tight as hey take a ride on one of the carnival rides at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Jasmine Flores, 3, of Anaheim holds tight with her father Jose as they ride the carousel at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A hungry John Conner, right, of Huntington Beach picks up his torta ahogada order from Salvador Cruz at a food stand at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A musician keeps the beat of the music on the box drum called a Cajon as part of the entertainment at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Two dancers entertain the crowd with a traditional Mexican dance at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Sofia Villalopez waits for customers at her curio stand at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Raymundo Hernandez keeps an eye on the carne asada at a food booth at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A young member of a Mexican dance group acknowledges the crowd at the end of the dance. The dancers were part of the entertainment at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration in downtown Santa Ana Saturday. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA – Cinco de Mayo is not a traditional Mexican holiday, but that has not stopped it from being one of the most popular celebrations of Mexican culture in the U.S.

Organizers of the two largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Orange County are expecting a turnout of more than 375,000 people through the weekend events, both offering plenty of Mexican fare, games, carnival rides and live entertainment.

Visitors can walk along Fourth Street to take in the sights and sounds of downtown Santa Ana's 14th Cinco de Mayo festival, which runs through today. The festival offers carnival rides, food booths, beer gardens and local entertainers performing Latin music and folklorico dances.

Santa Ana resident Teresa Baltazar said participating in Cinco de Mayo events teaches younger generations about celebrating Mexican culture, at a time when they can sometimes be put down for doing so.

"We have two flags, and both are important," said Baltazar, 52.

Katherine Vo of Huntington Beach said she was driving through downtown Santa Ana for an eye exam when she stopped to have a plate of food and enjoy the festival's scenery.

"I love the food, community and family," said Vo, 30. "America represents different cultures, and it is important not to lose that. With everything that's been going on, like the bombings, it's nice to see people going out and celebrating."

Laguna Beach residents Mia Salvini, 14, and her sister Anna, 12, said Saturday afternoon was the first time they celebrated Cinco de Mayo. Mia, who bought artisan crafts, said she wanted to experience celebrating the festival after hearing about it at school. Mia is enrolled at Mater Dei High School, while Anna attends Orange County School of the Arts.

"We wanted to see the different things they have in the community since we will be surrounded by it for the next four years," Mia said.

Anaheim's Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is going strong more than four decades after the late Joel Guerena founded it in 1971. The 43rd annual celebration in La Palma Park, kicked off Thursday with rides and games and continues through today with food booths and entertainment.

Nadine Rodriguez, president of the nonprofit Anaheim Cinco de Mayo and daughter of Guerena, said more than 100,000 people are expected to attend the celebration, among the oldest in the U.S. The alcohol-free festival at the park, at Harbor Boulevard and La Palma Avenue, includes about 20 food booths and a similar number of craft and business-sponsored booths, where people can buy items and also receive giveaways.

Anaheim's festival holds a soccer tournament over the weekend. It also crowns a court of young princesses each year, who range in age from about 5 to 8. The festival committee will announce five scholarships, totaling about $7,500, at a breakfast this morning.

Juan Alanis, 30, of Anaheim said he has been coming to the Anaheim festival since he was 6. He considers the festival an important family tradition, and he brings his daughter to the event each year. He says he teaches his daughter about the different holidays of Mexico at home so she does not lose her heritage.

"To me, the most important thing is to try and create traditions, but pass them on in a fun way," Alanis said.

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